Former mayor of Newbury remembers his time with Queen Elizabeth II

As the UK’s longest serving monarch, the Queen had many public engagements and one such visit brought her to Newbury more than two decades ago.

She arrived in the town to help celebrate its 400th anniversary.

Originally granted a Royal Charter by her namesake, Elizabeth I, Newbury’s then mayor Gary Poulson welcomed Elizabeth II to the town in 1996.

He remarked that Her Majesty “listened so intently to anything I said” and that she “always paused and replied so thoughtfully”.

In fact, eight months after the visit, Mr Poulson attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace.

Here, the Queen's Lady-in-Waiting, Lady Susan Hussey, recognised Mr Poulson and asked him for any photos of the Newbury event.

A photo album was sent to the Palace, and it was returned with a letter from Lady Susan Hussey, explaining that she and the Queen had looked over them at tea.

Mr Poulson said: "Her Majesty listened so intently to anything I said, she always paused and replied so thoughtfully.

"It amused me that she noted the Daniels department store that was in the Market Place at that time and told me they had one in Windsor."